Eureka weekly sentinel. [volume] (Eureka, Nev.) 1887-1902, 1887-12-31
THE FEDkRAL BUILDING.
A Hitch I'm che Construction OF she
New Building at Carson.

We learn from the Carson Index
that there is a hitch in the construc.
ton of the Government building al
that place. Superintendent Ryland's
salary has been suspended, pending
the resumption of active operations,
and the whole work seems to have
been clogged almost indefinitely. Pri.
marily, the work has hung fire through
the iuattention OF Nevada's delega-
ton at Washington. The business Of
the people needs constant attention al
the Capitol. AS a rule the men in
charge OF bureaus and departments
know absolutely nothing Of ci1cum-
stances and conditions prevailing in
the Far West. They need to be coun-
seled and guided to avoid mistakes.
When not so informed and advised
they are as apt to blunder, unintention-
ally, rs to strike the right course.
We believe we know something
about this Carson building and what
ais it. We ought to, because We suf-
fered more anxiety and lost more
sleep over it than all the rest
of the people of the State put
together. We remained at our
post (for CARSON during an all
night session of the House finally got
the floor on this Carson bill pressed
it to a vote which was practically
unanimous; a Wisconsin member,
who had a similar bill and was angry
because We had gotten in ahead OF
him. raised the point that no quorum
had voted; we put the House under a
call and held it there for three mortal
hours (and they were long hours at
that particular time in the rush and
confusion of the closing Of q SESSION.
until the hammer fell, so as not to
lose our right at the beginning of a
succeeding session; we took all the
fast trains from Eureka in the follow
ing December and got there on time
to take care of this "dear little BILL"
as old Jimmy would call it; Speaker
Carlisle held that we were not en-
titled to the floor Immediately on the
reconvening of Congress, as the Pres
ident's message and other things cut
us off, but that we would have the
first right when the order, Of "unfin-
ished business was reached on that
particular subdivision Of the calendar,
some weeks later; we got in at the
right time and pushed the bill through,
the first public building authorized by
Congress duringour four years, though
several others were authorized later
on during the same session. Briefly,
this is a part of the history OF the
Carson appropriation, and but a part.
No mention is made of the long tug
before the Committee on Public Build
ings and Grounds TO secure a favora-
BILE report. But for Mr.. Speaker Carl
isles partially for the writer the
building would not have been author
lied to this day. This is gospel truth.
There is some further history also.
We resisted the Establishments of
Reno. Certain statesmen down there
wanted to undertake to give us every
vote in Washoe county if we would
agree to substitute Reno for Carson in
the bill. Those gentlemen were not
to blame for their zeal for their own
town; rather they are to be COM
mended for it. There was nothing
wrong on their part. But we an
swered that Carson, being the capital
OF the State, was the proper place for
the Federal building. And so we
stood by Carson. We have always
loved Carson. If Carson had re-
turned our fond affection she might
possibly have been better off to-day,
for we speak with candor and conf
dence when we say that we are fully
satisfied that it would have been
within our power, under certain con-
tingencies, to have done some things
for this public building and the mint
which have not been done. But let
that all pass. We neve bleed nor
lose sleep over things that are beyond
recall. The philosophic view of things
is to turn ones back on the past. We
are self-satisfied, and that ends it.
The Carson appropriation is for
100000. Holman, the great OBJ
jector and watchdog of the Treasury,
wanted us to accept $4,000. We told
the House distinctly that with the in
creased cost OF labor and material in
this country, a building worth SIS, 900
in the East would cost 800, 900, or
more here. We told Supervising
Architect Bell, the same thing after
the bill had passed, land urged upon him
the wisdom Of constructing the build
ing by days works, instead of con-
tracing it to the lowest bidder. We
feared he would not get a bid within
the 100000 limit. And this is pre-
cisely what has happened. Had our
days work suggestion prevailed the
work would have been inasgurated,
and gone on until the appropriation
had become exhausted. We would
then have had the Government
:" stuck" and the only way out would
have been to vote more money and
finish the Job. This is the usual GUS
tom with all of these public buildings.
We wanted a fine building for GU
State. Our days work plan would
have secured it. Now, if they reform
the plans and cut the cloth to the
800, 900 appropriation We are apt to
get a shabby affair-if we ever get
anything. .
We had Architect Bell pulled
around to our idea in the premises,
and he promised to construct the build
ing in pursuance of the same. But
Bell went out before anything was
lone and a new man came in. W.
know nothing about the new fellow.
But we do know that he should have
been looked after, and put on the
light track, in like manner, as we had
educated" Bell. And herein was
Nevada's delegation derelict OF duty.
But a man may be a very expert hod-
'arrier and know nothing about max
ng a watch. We commisserate with
larson, sincerely and profoundly--in